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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mine · rule · jam · chair · temple · safe · track · bulb

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. track — a song
  3. mine — for digging
  4. rule — a law
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. track — to keep track
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. track — a path
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. rule — government
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. chair — a leader
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. jam — to spread on bread

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com